Macomb County will receive $72 million from the State of Michigan to help fund major infrastructure projects that will improve water quality and reduce the risk of future sewer collapses, sinkholes and basement flooding.
The State House Appropriations Committee late Wednesday approved funding for vital underground infrastructure improvements, including:
- Utilizing existing infrastructure to allow for “storage” of combined sanitary sewage and storm water flow inside the 11-foot-diameter pipe that serves the city of Eastpointe and most of St. Clair Shores. Officials estimated the project could reduce combined sewage discharges at the Chapaton Pump Station in St. Clair Shores to Lake St. Clair by 30%.
- An in-system wastewater storage project inside the existing underground infrastructure near the Martin Retention Basin which handles combined sewer flow from the city of Roseville, reducing combined sewer overflows by 20%.
- Construction of a new pump station at Nine Mile Road at Jefferson Avenue – the first new pump since 1968 -- to increase sewer capacity and protect basements from flooding.
- Ongoing rehabilitation of the Macomb Interceptor sewer along 15 Mile Road. The giant pipe carries the sewage of nearly 600,000 residents and businesses in Macomb County.
When Miller ran for the position of public works commissioner in 2016, her goal was to address the issue of combined sewer overflows which has been going on for decades.
“This funding is a big help for transformational projects that will help ease the burden on system rate-payers who would otherwise pay for these projects through an increase in their sewer rates,” Miller said. “Our sewer systems may be out of sight, but they cannot be out of mind.”
The Macomb County Public Works commissioner applauded state lawmakers for their vision to fund transformational projects that have been designed. In particular, she credited state Sen. Michael MacDonald (R-Clinton Township) and state Rep. Pamela Hornberger (R-Chesterfield Township).
“We appreciate Sen. MacDonald and Rep. Hornberger for their leadership and being champions in obtaining funding for these projects,” Miller said. “I remain confident that Macomb County and its elected representatives at the federal, state and local levels will continue to have the political will to fund transformational projects. Future generations will depend on it.”
At the Macomb Interceptor Drain project along 15 Mile Road, an impervious liner will be installed to protect the concrete pipe beneath 15 Mile Road from further degradation and a potential collapse.
The funding from the Legislature is part of the federal allocation to Michigan under the American Rescue Plan Act. The appropriations bill now goes to the full House and Senate for approval.
“We must maintain our underground infrastructure to ensure we don’t have another sinkhole,” said Miller.
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